Personal care applicator assembly

ABSTRACT

A two-part personal care applicator includes an outer shell and a replaceable cartridge assembly filled with a product to be dispensed. The outer shell includes a cap and a rotatable knob to advance the product. The cartridge assembly fits into the outer shell and includes an internal rotatable shaft with a lower portion that couples to the rotatable knob, and an upper screw portion coupled to a threaded piston disposed below the product to be administered, such that when the knob is rotated, the piston moves upwardly, causing the product to be administered through the top portion of the outer shell when the cap is opened. A coupling mechanisms maintain the cartridge assembly within the outer shell until manually released. The coupling mechanism may include one or more retainer clips that extend from the cartridge assembly and engage with corresponding openings in the outer shell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to personal care and, in particular, to an applicator assembly for dispensing lip balm and other personal care products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many applicators for personal care products such as lip balm, deodorants, salves, and so forth. However, these applicators come in factory-made housings that may be unattractive to the consumer.

While there are many decorative “cases” for personal care products such as Chap-Stick®, the product itself is nevertheless taken from the case and used in the conventional manner.

The need remains, therefore, for a personal care applicator that integrates a product cartridge with a outer shell or housing, enabling a user to refill a more decorative housing with a product of their choosing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention resides in an applicator for various products, including personal care products such as lip balm, deodorant, cosmetics, and so forth. The invention is not limited in this regard so long as the product is a solid or semi-solid such as a waxy or stiff material that generally retains its shape between applications.

The applicator is a two-part applicator having an outer shell and a replaceable cartridge filled with the product to be dispensed. This enables different outer shells to be used with different cartridges, including outer shells having a decorative or personalized appearance.

The top portion of the outer shell may include a cap that opens and closes, and the bottom portion includes a manually operable control such as a rotatable knob to advance the product. The rotatable knob may be mechanically coupled to the lower portion of the outer shell such that the rotatable knob forms part of the outer shell.

The cap is preferably hinged to the outer shell, and the assembly may further include one or more magnets to maintain the cap in a closed condition until use. Alternatively, mechanical latches or frictional cooperation may be used to hold the cap in place.

The cartridge assembly fits into the outer shell and includes an internal rotatable shaft with a lower portion that couples to the rotatable knob of the outer shell, and an upper, threaded portion. The upper, threaded portion is coupled to a threaded piston disposed below the product to be administered, such that when the control on the bottom portion of the outer shell is rotated, the piston moves upwardly, causing the product to be administered through the top portion of the outer shell when the cap is opened.

In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion of the rotatable shaft in the cartridge assembly includes a splined portion, and the rotatable knob includes a socket configured to receive the splined portion of the rotatable shaft. The preferred embodiment further includes a coupling mechanism between the outer shell and the cartridge assembly operative to maintain the cartridge assembly within the outer shell until manually released.

In one disclosed example, the coupling mechanism includes one or more retainer clips that extend from the cartridge assembly and engage with corresponding openings in the outer shell. When a user presses on the one or more retainer clips through the corresponding openings in the outer shell, the cartridge assembly is released from the outer shell. The one or more retainer clips may be supported on arms that are spring-biased away from the cartridge assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cartridge assembly;

FIG. 3A is a side view of a rotator knob;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the rotator knob of FIG. 3A; and

FIG. 4 is a drawing in partial cross section that shows internal applicator components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now making reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention depicted generally at 100. The assembly includes a hollow outer shell 102 which may be a cylindrical, or may have other cross-sectional shapes such as rectangular, oval, polygonal, star-shaped, or irregular.

The outer shell preferably includes an upper cap 106, which may be hinged to the shell at 108. One or more magnets 109 may be provided in the cap 106, shell body 102, or both, to maintain the cap in a closed position between uses. Alternatively, mechanical latches or frictional cooperation may be used to hold the cap in place, with or without hinges, and/or with or without magnets. For example, with larger contents such as deodorants, the cap may simply pull on and off using friction, detents, threads or the like in between uses.

The bottom of the shell includes a user control such as a rotatable knob 110. The knob includes a socket or cavity 120 including vertical features to receive a splined shaft, as described in further detail below. The knob 110 may include an upper flange 116 bent over the bottom wall 118 of the shell, such that the knob rotates but remains with the shell.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cartridge assembly that fits into the outer shell through the upper end of the shell when the cap is opened. The cartridge assembly includes an inner shell 202 that holds the product 104 to be applied. The preferred embodiment includes a mechanism for maintain the cartridge assembly in the outer shell until replacement of the cartridge assembly. This mechanism may include one or more retainer clips 114, each disposed on a respective arm 206, hinged at 208, and spring-biased away from the inner shell 202.

In the preferred embodiment, there are two retainer clips disposed on opposing sides of the applicator assembly. The arms 206 may be made of plastic, with hinges 208 being “living hinges.” Alternatively, the arms may be spring steel or other suitable material(s).

As best seen in FIG. 3A, the cartridge assembly preferable includes a central shaft that extends out of the bottom of the assembly as a splined shaft 204 which cooperates with the socket 120 in the rotatable knob when the cartridge assembly is inserted into the outer shell. As shown in FIG. 3B, the cooperating spline structure may feature a cruciate shape, though any other non-round cross sectional geometry may alternatively be used.

FIG. 4 is a drawing in partial cross section that shows internal applicator components. The central shaft 402 preferably extends the length of the cartridge assembly, and includes a threaded ‘jack screw’ portion above seal 404. A threaded piston or base component 302 is journaled on the screw 402, such that as the shaft is turned in one direction, the base 302 is advanced upwardly, causing the product 104 to be dispensed through the upper opening of the cartridge assembly and out the open upper end of the outer shell with the cap in an open position. When the knob is turned in the opposite direction the product is retracted back into the cartridge (and outer shell), thereby protecting unused product if the knob is over-advanced.

In terms of materials and dimensions, the entire assembly, including the outer shell and cartridge may be made of plastic, though other material such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and so forth may be used for some or all of the various components. For dispensing lip balm, lip sticks and the like, the assembly may be 1 to 4 inches tall or thereabouts, with side-to-side dimensions in the range of ⅜ to 1 inch. For deodorants and larger skin application areas, the length may be 2 to 6 inches, more or less, with side-to-side dimensions in the range of ¾ to 2 inches.

It is anticipated that the cartridge assembles would be made available in pre-loaded form, with contents ready for use. As such, a user would purchase a cartridge with desired contents and load the same into their outer shell on a repetitive basis as the contents are used up. An advantage of the system is that the same outer shell may be used with different ingredients if the user wishes to try different product formulations over time. 

1. An applicator, comprising: a cartridge assembly including an elongated cartridge body, a jackscrew component and a single moveable piston; wherein the elongated cartridge body has an open top end, a closed bottom end, and an aperture through the closed bottom end; wherein the piston includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and an internal threaded bore; wherein the piston is received within the cartridge body such that a space is formed between the top surface of the piston and the open top end of the cartridge body, and wherein a product to be administered by the applicator fills the space and is in direct contact with the upper surface of the piston; wherein the jackscrew component has an upper portion that is inserted through the aperture in the bottom end of the cartridge body, and an lower portion that remains external to the bottom end of the cartridge body; wherein the upper portion of the jackscrew component is threaded to engage with the internal threads of the piston, and the lower portion of the jackscrew component forms the first portion of a mechanical coupling; a rotatable knob component including the second portion of the mechanical coupling, such that the knob component is mechanically coupled to the lower portion of the jackscrew component; an outer shell assembly having a top portion and a bottom portion; wherein the top portion of the outer shell assembly includes a cap that opens and closes; wherein the cartridge assembly is received within the outer shell assembly such that the knob extends below the bottom portion of the outer shell assembly, and when the knob is rotated, the piston moves upwardly, causing the product to be administered when the cap is opened.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The applicator of claim 1, further including one or more magnets to maintain the cap in a closed condition until use.
 4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the rotatable knob component includes a socket or cavity comprising the second portion of the mechanical coupling to the lower portion of the jackscrew component.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The applicator of claim 1, further including a frictional fit between the outer shell and the cartridge assembly operative to maintain the cartridge assembly within the outer shell until manually released. 7-9. (canceled)
 10. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the product to be administered is a solid.
 11. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the product to be administered is a lip balm.
 12. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the product to be administered is a deodorant or cosmetic product. 13-20. (canceled)
 21. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the outer shell assembly has a rectangular cross section with flat sides.
 22. The applicator of claim 21, wherein the cap has a rectangular cross section with flat sides that are flush to the flat sides of the outer shell assembly.
 23. The applicator of claim 21, wherein the knob has a rectangular cross section with flat sides that are flush to the flat sides of the outer shell assembly. 